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Drones for Environmental Science

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Drones for Environmental Science

Instructor: Dr. David W. Johnston

7,251 already enrolled

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4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

81 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

81 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Describe how a variety of drones can accomplish important missions for environmental science.
Explain the importance of key best practices in drone research, including legal and ethical concerns.
Discover relevant career paths in drones for environmental science.

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

8 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 4 modules in this course

How can drones be used for good in environmental science? What types of data can scientists collect, and how should they go about collecting it using drones? Why should someone integrate drones into their existing career or pursue this field?

This Duke Environment+ course serves as an introduction for anyone interested in learning more about drone use in the environmental sciences. No background knowledge in drones is assumed or necessary. Over the course of four weeks, you will discover the basics of drone use in the environmental sciences, including specific benefits of using drones for scientific research; types of drones and how they are used for different purposes and missions; and best research practices, including legal and ethical concerns. The final week of the course will help you get started on exploring different career paths that involve drones by introducing you to professionals working with this technology in the environmental sciences. By the end of the course, you should be better equipped to consider how to use drones for your own research interests, and you will be better prepared for the more in-depth Environment+ course sequence UAS Applicants and Operations in Environmental Science, should you decide to continue your studies.

You'll begin by gaining foundational drone knowledge. You will learn about inclusive language that you can use to describe drones, the major drone components, and different types of drones. Your knowledge will be assessed via quizzes.

What's included

5 videos9 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt

5 videos Total 36 minutes

Introducing the Duke Marine Robotics and Remote Sensing Lab 1 minute
Welcome to Drones for Environmental Science 5 minutes
A Minor Rant on Drones Terminology 5 minutes
Anatomy of Multirotor Drones 10 minutes
Anatomy of Fixed-Wing Drones 14 minutes

9 readings Total 95 minutes

General Course Information 10 minutes
What Is the Duke Marine Robotics and Remote Sensing Lab? 10 minutes
Entry Survey 10 minutes
Pathway to the Duke Drones Certificate Program 10 minutes
Discussion Guidelines 10 minutes
Course Glossary 10 minutes
Report a problem with the course 5 minutes
Introduction to the Anatomy of a Drone 10 minutes
Electromagnetic Spectrum and Drone Sensors 20 minutes

2 assignments Total 60 minutes

Drone Terminology and Basics 30 minutes
Drone Anatomy and Terminology 30 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 10 minutes

Course Meet and Greet 10 minutes

You will learn about the importance of drones for environmental science and management, including the pros and cons of gathering data using drones versus using traditional techniques. Your knowledge will be assessed via quizzes, and an optional discussion post gives you an opportunity to consider how you could use drones in your own research.

What's included

6 videos1 reading2 assignments1 discussion prompt

6 videos Total 40 minutes

Intro to Five Qualities Framework 12 minutes
Why Use Drones? Affordability 4 minutes
Why Use Drones? Immediacy 4 minutes
Why Use Drones? Efficiency 7 minutes
Why Use Drones? Quality 7 minutes
Why Use Drones? Safety 6 minutes

1 reading Total 10 minutes

Counting Seabirds 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 60 minutes

Practice Quiz: Reasons to Use Drones I 30 minutes
Reasons to Use Drones II 30 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 10 minutes

What kind of project would you like to use drones to accomplish? 10 minutes

You will learn about how you should approach using drones for research both ethically and legally. You’ll also learn about how to choose an appropriate drone for different types of environmental missions. Your knowledge will be assessed via quizzes, and you will have the opportunity to explore mission planning in an optional discussion post.

What's included

6 videos5 readings3 assignments1 discussion prompt

6 videos Total 83 minutes

What Limits the Application of Drones? 7 minutes
Professional Ethics in Environmental Research 16 minutes
Protocol Playbook: Putting Mission Considerations Together 12 minutes
Protocol Playbook: Safety Tips 9 minutes
Protocol Playbook: Habitat Mapping Tips 13 minutes
Protocol Playbook: Mammals and Avifauna Tips 26 minutes

5 readings Total 50 minutes

Towards Comprehensive Best Practices for Drone Use in Environmental Research 10 minutes
Legal Requirements 10 minutes
Protocol Playbook 10 minutes
About the Duke Dialogue Pilot 10 minutes
Give Us Your Feedback on Dialogue! 10 minutes

3 assignments Total 90 minutes

What Limits Drone Use? Regulations and Ethical Considerations 30 minutes
Planning for Success: Operations and Safety 30 minutes
Planning For Success: Legal and Ethical Considerations 30 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 10 minutes

What are some considerations you would need to take into account when planning a mission of interest? 10 minutes

You’ll learn about the concept of the scientist pilot and meet four different professionals who embody its characteristics. This week will help you think about different career pathways that use drones for environmental sciences, and you’ll complete a final graded quiz and discussion post to help you consider these fields of interest.

What's included

4 videos9 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

4 videos Total 69 minutes

Drones in Careers: Troy Walton | UNC Drone Lab 20 minutes
Drones in Careers: Eric Angel Ramos | University of Vermont 22 minutes
Drones in Careers: Allix North | National Estuarine Research Reserve 21 minutes
What's Next? 5 minutes

9 readings Total 90 minutes

Becoming the Scientist Pilot 10 minutes
What is the Scientist Pilot? 10 minutes
Interview Bio: Meet Troy Walton 10 minutes
Interview Bio: Meet Eric Angel Ramos 10 minutes
Interview Bio: Meet Allix North 10 minutes
Getting Involved in the Drones Community 10 minutes
Final Course Survey 10 minutes
Survey Interest Form for Environment+ Future Programming 10 minutes
Share your learning experience 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Scientist Pilot Quiz 30 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 10 minutes

Networking 10 minutes

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(33 ratings)

Dr. David W. Johnston

Duke University

1 Course 7,251 learners

Offered by

Duke University

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Reviewed on Aug 6, 2025

Very inspiring since Course includes real examples from plethora of scientific diverse cases

Reviewed on Feb 3, 2025

I had fun! Very much interested in continuing on this path.

Reviewed on Jul 26, 2023

I think this is one of the best courses that you can take if you really want to learn about this topic and more!

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Frequently asked questions

Duke Environment+ will be hosting an informational session on Drones for Environmental Science on July 25 at 7 p.m. ET. You can register for this virtual session via the Zoom registration page.

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.